The Myth of "Busy": How the World’s Most Successful People Find Time for Fitness

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In my years practicing and teaching martial arts, and now as a fitness coach, I have heard every excuse in the book. But there is one that stands above the rest: 'I’m just too busy right now.

It’s a phrase used by CEOs, founders, and executives alike. And while it feels like a valid reason, it is almost always a myth. We all have the same 168 hours in a week. The difference between those who stay fit and those who "stall out" isn't the number of meetings on their calendar; it’s how they view their time.

If you have time to check your email 50 times a day, scroll through social media, or watch a Netflix series, you aren't "too busy." You are simply prioritizing other things over your health. Here is how the world’s highest performers find the time to train, and why you can, too.

1. They Stop "Finding" Time and Start "Scheduling" It

You don't "find" time for a board meeting or a doctor's appointment; you schedule it. Successful people treat their health with the same level of respect. They don't wait for a gap in their day to see if they can fit in a workout. They put it on the calendar as a non-negotiable event.

If it’s on the calendar, it’s real. If it’s just a "hope," it’s a hobby.

2. The "Minimum Effective Dose" Strategy

The "too busy" myth is often fueled by the belief that a workout has to be 90 minutes of grueling effort to count. High-performers understand the principle of the Minimum Effective Dose.

If you have an hour, take the hour. But if you only have 20 minutes between calls, a focused, high-intensity circuit is infinitely better than doing nothing. They don't let the "perfect" workout get in the way of the "possible" one.

3. Decision Stacking

The most efficient leaders look for ways to stack their habits. Need to have a one-on-one with a direct report? Make it a walking meeting. Have to catch up on an industry podcast? Do it while you’re on the treadmill. By integrating movement into their existing workday, they eliminate the need to "carve out" extra time.

4. They View Fitness as a Productivity Tool

This is the most critical shift. Most people see exercise as something that takes energy. Successful people know that exercise generates energy.

Research shows that employees who exercise during the workday report better time management, increased mental sharpness, and higher resilience to stress. When you spend 45 minutes in the gym, you aren't "losing" 45 minutes of work; you are upgrading the quality of the other 10 hours you spend in the office.

The Executive Summary

"I don't have time" is just code for "It isn't a priority."

In March, as we focus on our "Must-Lists," I challenge you to look at your calendar with total honesty. Your body is the engine that drives your career, your family, and your legacy. You don't "owe" it to yourself to find time; you owe it to the people who depend on your leadership to make the time.

Stop being "busy" and start being effective.